Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) treat children from birth to adolescence. Nurses specializing in this area generally choose a track in either acute or primary care, and they can work in various facilities, including doctors’ offices, clinics, or hospitals.
In Texas, there are multiple options for nurses who wish to pursue a degree in this nurse practitioner specialty.
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Texas BSN to PNP Programs
BSN-prepared nurses have multiple options for pursuing a DNP degree in Texas, including MSN and DNP degrees. Some of these universities also offer post-graduate options for nurses with an MSN in another specialty.
Baylor University
- Waco, Texas
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $1,150 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Baylor has two DNP options: a BSN to PNP DNP Acute Care and a BSN to PNP DNP Primary Care program. The main coursework for both programs is completed online, though multiple on-campus immersions are required throughout the program. The primacy care option is 75 credits with 1,125 clinical hours, and the acute care option is 89 credits with 1,725 clinical hours.
Houston Christian University
- Houston, Texas
- Online + In-person
Modality: Online with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 38
Clinical Hours: 517
Tuition: $19,570 for the program + fees; breaks down to about $515 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The BSN to PNP Primary Care program at Houston Christian University can be completed in as little as 24 months. It consists of 12 courses, all of which are offered in an asynchronous online format, which allows students to attend classes at a time that works for their schedule.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- Lubbock, Texas
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $1,003.69 per credit including fees for residents; $1,413.69 per credit including fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
TTUHSC offers two PNP programs: a BSN to PNP Acute Care track and a BSN to PNP Primary Care track. The acute care track requires 51 credits, and the primary care track requires 49. Most coursework is completed online, but students are required to come to campus a few times throughout the program.
Texas Woman’s University
- Dallas, Texas
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 45
Clinical Hours: 780
Tuition: $323 per credit + fees for residents
Program Overview:
The BSN to PNP Primary Care program at Texas Woman’s University consists of online coursework with some on-campus requirements. The school also has a Post-Graduate MSN to PNP option that is 27 credits with 780 clinical hours. Because these programs have such a strong online component, they are only available to Texas residents.
The University of Texas at Arlington
- Arlington, Texas
- Varies
Modality: Varies
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $654 per credit + fees for online; $3,456 for one 6-credit semester hybrid + fees or about $576 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The University of Texas at Arlington offers more PNP pathways than any other university in the state. If interested in acute care, BSN-prepared nurses can enroll in the BSN to PNP Acute Care Online or BSN to PNP Acute Care On-Campus program. There is also a BSN to PNP Primary Care Online and a BSN to PNP Primary Care On-Campus option. UTA also offers a BSN to PNP Dual Acute/Primary Care program to gain a full range of experience in caring for pediatric patients.
MSN-prepared nurses also have multiple options: Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP Acute Care Online, Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP Acute Care On-Campus, Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP Primary Care Online, and Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP Primary Care On-Campus programs.
The University of Texas at Austin
- Austin, Texas
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On-campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 48
Clinical Hours: 660
Tuition: $1,418 per credit + fees for residents, $2,035 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
The BSN to PNP Primary at the University of Texas at Austin is an on-campus program that takes two years to complete, though part-time options are available. UT Austin also offers two options for MSN-prepared nurses: a 24 to 30-credit Post-Graduate Certificate PNP Acute Care option and a 27-credit Post-Graduate Certificate PNP Primary Care option.
The University of Texas at El Paso
- El Paso, Texas
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $522 per credit + fees for residents; $782 per hour + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
UT El Paso offers two PNP options: the BSN to PNP Acute Care program, which requires 49 credits and 765 clinical hours, and the BSN to PNP Primary Care program, which requires 49 credits and 675 clinical hours. Both options feature flexible online learning options, on-campus requirements, and experience in the school’s innovative simulation lab.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- San Antonio, Texas
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 76
Clinical Hours: 1020
Tuition: $398 per credit + fees for residents; $1,106 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
The BSN to PNP DNP Primary Care program at UT Health San Antonio is a hybrid program with online and on-campus requirements. There is also a Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP option that is 28 credits with 660 clinical hours.
Texas Online PNP Programs
All PNP programs have an in-person clinical component, as hands-on learning is essential to completing the program. Most of these programs have both online and in-person components. The program at Houston Christian University is the only one that does not have any on-campus requirements.
Best PNP Programs in Texas
The best PNP program in Texas depends on what you’re looking for, but there are a few programs that stand out. Baylor University has impressive acute and primary care programs with more clinical hours than other options, meaning students get significant in-person experience. The dual specialty in acute and primary care from the University of Texas at Arlington is also a unique option that can make graduates more marketable.
Texas Most Affordable PNP Programs
Houston Christian University, Texas Woman’s University, The University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and The University of Texas at El Paso offer the most affordable PNP programs in Texas.
Please note that some of these schools include fees with their costs, and some don’t, and some program costs are listed per semester, per year, or per program, which can make it difficult to compare costs on a per-credit basis.